I have been reading the book ‘Fierce Conversations” by Susan Scott. I have been thinking about the word “fierce”. I have been trying to have fierce, on purpose, relevant, even life-changing conversations with people instead of the normal yada-yada dribble.
I have also been thinking a lot, as you might have guessed, about planting house churches. In Luke 10:3b Jesus says that he is sending us out as lambs among wolves. Yikes! Not as wolves among wolves, but as lambs. As far as I know, lambs are not fierce. They are timid, humble creatures. I don’t believe that Jesus is calling us to be wimps, but to be extremely humble, not militant or combative.
In 1960 A. A. Hoehling wrote a book called The Fierce Lambs. It is the story of four American soldiers who were sent to France during the First World War. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to be sent overseas into war. However, the more I engage the enemy by following orders and going forward, the more fierce the battle becomes.
So, how can I be a fierce lamb, a person who is not afraid to be bold, aggressive, even reckless at times but still humble? The answer, of course is to follow the example of Jesus. Isn’t he a beautiful example of a fierce lamb? Note to self: obey Jesus, listen to the Holy Spirit, and be fierce.
Reading your musings today brings to mind the lyrics of a song by Michael Card, ‘A Violent Grace’. It’s the first tune on the album ‘Soul Anchor’.
Whenever I listen to the lyrics and envision the means by which He paid it all… for ALL…for ALL TIME, my heart swells with such powerful emotion! I’m renewed in my outpouring of love for such a ‘manly man’ who would~
1~count the cost,
2~determine He would pay it with ALL He had, 3~and set the example for each that would follow in obedience to His Word, ‘take up their own cross daily’.
The more I’ve come to realize how we’ve (largely in the US) ‘sanitized’ the message by our example instead of being brave/courageous in our ‘following’ Him, I understand that to ‘really’ follow Him and live the life we are called to, will usually mean getting ‘our feet dirty’ regularly.
I draw a huge example from Jesus’ model when He washed the disciples feet, then told them to do likewise~this hold much meaning in the way of literal/figurative/spiritual example. I find it highly interesting that this would be their last ‘group’ lesson before He would show them what it would cost.
He paid with ‘a violent grace’. Being reckless was a daily possibility/likelihood for our Beloved Lord, why would we happen to think it could be any different for any of the rest of us??
Sitting in the pew for years didn’t bring this to my way of thinking, it was only after reading ‘meditatively’, deeply pondering/praying over His Word, sitting still at His feet waiting for His still small voice to clearly reveal each nugget of Truth then…demonstrating my willingness to follow when I’m scared out of my mind (most of the time) stepping out into that path and not really knowing what happens next, just taking that step of faith…one after the other trusting Him and remembering what He did (and still does) for me.
By: Suze on August 3, 2010
at 11:58 AM
Awesome comment Suze. Yes, Going forward and following Jesus is really our only option. As C.S. Lewis said, “He isn’t safe, but He is good.”
By: Ken Eastburn on August 3, 2010
at 3:11 PM